Painting method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for painting animals and/or objects, using a coating paint product, characterized in that it has: at least one column-like upright member at least one spray nozzle fitted on said column at least one tank containing said paint liquid an electrically insulated, shower tray-like platform at least a jet-containing wall, which is likely to be situated in front of said column-like upright member.

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for painting animalsand/or objects, using a coating paint product.

Particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus used for coatingsolid bodies with coating paint liquid compounds, which are vaporizedand/or micronized and/or atomized while spraying a body to be coated, inaccordance with a novel and particularly convenient and cost effectivemethod.

The practice of coating bodies with more or less liquid substances hasbeen known since ancient times, which practice is carried out by amassage action with a number of various methods, obviously including themanual action.

The main drawbacks arising from this practice are based on the fact thatthe manual massage action is particularly difficult if the expecteddegree of coating is particularly high, e.g. when a liquid, a cream, alotion or a general compound having tanning properties is to be applied,in which case the body on which said compounds are applied shall notonly exhibit a degree of coating next to 100%, but also and further aparticularly even and homogeneous coating, due to the fact that saidcoating shall allow the skin that is treated with the above compounds toreact to sun exposure, or to react according to the chemical propertiesof the compounds and substances in use. This is the case of sunlesstanning creams and lotions, by which certain structural components ofthe skin react chemically by color variations (like in the case ofammines and certain small polypeptides which take a golden to dark browncolor depending on the amount of compound being applied). The skin iscomposed of various cells having different characteristics, which cangive it important characteristics to be considered in the design andoptimization of an apparatus for coating it. The skin has a multifacetedsurface having both a lipophilic and lipophobic character, which allowthe skin to function as a kind of barrier against unwanted impurities,and yet to let the gaseous component of the atmosphere in and watervapor or liquids out One more factor to be considered in the design and,optimization of a coating , paint product application apparatus is thatdue to the particular texture of the skin, a full and evenly homogeneouscoating is hardly attainable. It is also known that, in order to fullyand homogeneously coat a body, one more person is often needed,especially for coating regions of the body that are hardly reachable bythe subject (e.g. back, shoulders) and skin areas at joints, in whosefolds, often due to the massage movement, the liquid and/or cream in usestagnates.

Apparatuses and methods are known in the art for sprayingelectrostatically charged liquid paints, to enhance the adhesion of thecoating paint solution or liquid on the skin of the subject, whichobviate many of the drawbacks caused by manually coating a body withliquids and/or creams, particularly having tanning properties. Incertain particular embodiments, closed booths are used, in which coatingpaint liquids are sprayed on subjects in said booths. From prior artvarious types of closed booths are known for painting with coating paintproducts having various useful characteristics, for a proper applicationof the product on the body of the subject, such as the use of thermalfans to keep the atmosphere inside the painting booth warm andcomfortable, and/or the possibility of ventilating the environment(booth) at the end of the painting cycle, thereby obtaining an obviousimprovement of the environment conditions, in view of a further paintingcycle on another subject and/or the presence of air-cleaning systems,which clean the air inside the booth by using fans, which are operatedat each painting cycle and remove by suction the liquid paint mistcomponent fluctuating in the air during the cycle, which might beinhaled by the subject that is subjected to the painting action.

As most prior art apparatuses comprise closed booths, they causeconsiderable drawbacks during use. Some of these drawbacks are ofpsychological nature, as it is known that some people react withirritability and general discomfort in certain situations, for instancewhen they are forced to be enclosed in a rather small space (as apainting booth might be), thereby causing a sort of claustrophobia evenin people who do not generally suffer from this pathology.

Another drawback that may arise from the use of prior art apparatuses isthe possibility that the treated subject may receive a slight electricshock when the subject comes even in slight contact with the outside ofthe paint liquid or solution spray nozzles, as said electrostatic chargeinduced in the coating paint liquid or solution to enhance the adhesionof the coating paint solution or liquid is induced at the spray nozzles.

It was surprisingly found that many of the technical and not technicaldrawbacks of prior art apparatuses may be easily obviated, therebydrastically improving the quality of the service provided by saidapparatuses and reducing costs both of manufacture and use of saidapparatuses.

This invention has the object of obviating these drawbacks by a simple,cost-effective and easy to implement arrangement, which is also moreinteresting for the subject that is expected to use said invention, byproviding a painting booth of the open type, which is made of at leasttwo walls disposed one in front of the other and has one or more paintliquid or solution spray nozzles through which said liquid is propelledunder pressure, and exits therefrom in a finely micronized and/oratomized and/or vaporized form, and used various methods to chargeelectrostatically the solution and/or liquid being used, to achieve thepurpose of fully and homogeneously coat the body.

According to an improvement, said painting booth is conformed in such amanner, as to form a sort of shower cabin, which is composed of at leasttwo walls, preferably made of a transparent material and placed one infront of the other in a discontinuous manner, so as to leave at leasttwo areas uncovered by said walls, which are particularly suitable toallow the movements of the incoming and ingoing subjects to be exposedto painting cycles.

It may be noted that an arrangement involving the construction ofpainting booths formed by two opposed walls, as described above isparticularly interesting in that it allows to obviate certain typicaldrawbacks of prior art closed booths, as this particular arrangementallows people who may not feel at ease in particularly narrowenvironments to use these apparatuses for the application of lotionsand/or solutions all over the body, as it considerably decreases thetension generated by the fear of closed places, thanks to the fact thatthe subject may easily put an end to a painting session by simply goingout of the booth with no need of opening a door, which makes the boothmuch more comfortable.

Furthermore, such booths may be simply used on beaches and other publicspaces as they need no particular maintenance, unlike closed booths.

A further improvement consists in that said booths need no particularfor cleaning and ventilate the environment like those in use for closedbooths, because the natural aeration of the environment (booth) limitsthe stagnation of the coating paint liquid aerosol inside theenvironment, and the booth wall washing process is further facilitatedby the openings on the sides of the walls and by the presence of arotating platform, provided as an easily removable and cleanable tray,which is highly useful for possibly recycling the coating paint solutionin use during the painting cycle or for a faster disposal of theexhausted component of said solution, as there is no pipe connectionthrough which said solution would be forced to flow.

An additional advantage is provided by the different methods used,according to the invention, to charge electrostatically the liquid inuse during the painting process.

As mentioned above, the use of electrostatically charged liquids isknown in the process of animal and/or object painting, with the aim ofoptimizing the adhesion of the micronized and/or atomized and/orvaporized liquid on the body being painted.

The above well-known apparatuses use spray nozzles which induce theelectrostatic charge on the coating paint liquid to be used in thepainting step, while said liquid exits from the nozzles and, asdiscussed above, may have the drawback of retaining an electric charge,though minimal, which might be discharged on the user of the apparatus,if he/she moves inside the closed booth.

A further advantage provided by the apparatus of this invention consistsin that it provides various methods for inducing an electrostatic chargeon the coating paint liquid.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, a tank is used which caninduce the electrostatic charge on the solution contained therein byusing one or more spark plugs and/or diodes and/or electrodes which aredirectly in contact with the liquid or dipped therein, therebypreventing the electrostatic charge from being induced at the spraynozzles, and consequently preventing any passage of electrostaticcurrent from the nozzles to the body of the subject being painted, dueto a contact between the subject and the charged nozzles.

A further embodiment uses micronizing and/or atomizing and/or vaporizingnozzles inside a polarization further containing electrodes and/ordiodes and/or spark plugs, which come in direct contact with thevaporized mist of the liquid used for the painting process and directlyinduce the electrostatic charge thereon by contact.

In a further embodiment of the inventive apparatus the liquid is passedthrough a transparent coil, which is wound around or in contact with atleast one UV lamp. UV rays are known to be able to induce anelectrostatic charge on a liquid passing near it, without any directcontact with electrostatically charged metal elements, and therebypreventing any short circuit condition.

In a further embodiment, micronizing and/or vaporizing and/or atomizingnozzles are provided in a polarization chamber wherein micronizationand/or vaporization. and/or atomization occur until liquid droplets ofabout 20 μm are formed, which droplets are naturally charged with apositive electrostatic charge due to the high pressure exerted thereon.

Further improvements or characteristics of the painting method andapparatus forming the subject of the dependent claims.

These and other characteristics and advantages of the invention willappear more clearly from the following description of a few embodimentsshown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top and side perspective view of a painting booth.

FIG. 2 is a front and side perspective view of a painting booth.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a painting booth.

FIG. 4 is a rear and side perspective view of a painting booth.

FIG. 5 is a top and side perspective view of a painting booth.

FIG. 6 shows the individual construction elements of the painting booth.

FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of the shower with a subject in it,showing a block diagram of the circuit along which the material to besprayed is delivered.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of the subject body locations hit by the spray.

FIG. 9 is a spray atomization pattern within the curvilinear walls ofthe booth.

FIG. 10 shows a paint liquid polarization scheme by using a UV lamp.

FIG. 11 shows a liquid polarization scheme in a polarization chamber byusing two UV lamps.

FIG. 12 shows a liquid polarization scheme of the liquid in apolarization chamber by using electrodes.

FIG. 13 shows a liquid polarization scheme in a metal tank. FIG. 14shows a liquid polarization scheme after 20 μm spraying.

FIG. 15 shows a further embodiment of the apparatus according to theinvention.

FIG. 16 shows the disposition of the spraying nozzles for obtainingoptimum distribution of the tanning liquid over the body of a user.

FIGS. 17 and 18, show respectively a schematic view from above of thebooth according to the invention and the position of the columns forforwarding the liquid to the nozzles and which carry the said nozzles.

FIG. 19 shows a cross-sectional view along an axial plane of a preferredembodiment of the nozzles.

FIG. 20 shows another embodiment of the spaying nit of the deviceaccording to the invention the other art of the device being omittedexcept the double lateral wall.

FIG. 21 shows a lateral view of the embodiment according to FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 show a simplified schematic cross-sectional view of the deviceaccording to the invention in which vent means for sucking away therests of the sprayed liquid and a bottom wall with means for collectingand transporting away the fall down rests of the sprayed liquid areprovided.

FIG. 23 shows a schematic view of the tank for the tanning liquid or thelike according to a further variant of the present invention.

FIG. 24 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the deviceaccording to the invention.

FIG. 25 shows a top view of the embodiment according to FIG. 24.

FIG. 26 show a schematic view of a device according to the invention ina portable form.

FIGS. 1 to 5 are top and side perspective views of a painting booth. Thebooth 100 has two curvilinear walls 1 which are connected by an upright2 having nozzles, a rotating tray-like platform, a controller element 4,spray nozzles 5 and elements for supporting the walls 6. Note that theconstruction of the above booth is particularly suitable for people whomight suffer from particular disturbances related to the difficulty offinding themselves in closed and narrow spaces, and that the particularshape of the curvilinear walls, which are inwardly concave, isparticularly useful in keeping the vaporization and/or atomizationand/or micronization mist generated by the spray nozzles 5 as long aspossible within the environment (booth). The tray, walls and column maybe made of any material of various values, depending on aesthetic needsand/or other needs arising from installation sites. Particularly, thetray or at least a portion thereof is made of an electrically conductivematerial and is connected to the ground potential by known andappropriate means.

FIG. 6 shows the individual construction elements of the painting boothas shown in the previous figures, but also highlights the boothconstruction simplicity, which simplicity increases both thecost-effectiveness of the process, no particular technical arrangementbeing, required for maintenance, and the particular versatility of theapparatus, that may be used in a variety of contexts, such as in a gymor a beach. A preferred embodiment includes a tubular inverted U-shapedupright 2 having nozzles in one or more of its stems, and providing theadditional function of supporting the curvilinear walls.

FIG. 7 schematically shows the booth according to the previous figures,as well as a block diagram of the paint liquid spray circuit.

The paint liquid is drawn from a tank 20 and pressurized by using a pump21. Means 22 for electrostatically charging the paint liquid may beassociated to or inserted in the tank 20, which means will be describedin greater detail hereafter. Alternately, as outlined in dashed lines,said means 22′ may be of such a type as to generate a radiativeionization and are provided in the pipe 23 which delivers the liquid tothe spray nozzle/s 5. The pipe 23 may serve one, two or more spraynozzles 5, which are fitted on the column 2 in various patterns and/ororientations relative to the spraying direction. When more than onespray nozzle 5 is provided, a manifold, not shown in detail, may beadvantageously provided, the individual pipes for connection to thenozzles 5 branching off it.

Referring to FIG. 8, spray nozzles 5 may be arranged on the column 2 insuch a pattern as to ensure an optimized distribution of the paintliquid over the user's body. Considering an average body size, the spraynozzles 5 are advantageously arranged in a particular pattern, providinga nozzle substantially level with the face, two nozzles level with theshoulders, each coinciding with one of the two shoulders, a nozzle levelwith the chest, particularly the sternum, two nozzles, each coincidingwith the end of the forearm, particularly in the wrist region, assuminga vertical downward position of the arms, and a nozzle in a centralposition between the knees. Position adjustment means may be providedfor each nozzle relative to the others, along both the vertical and thehorizontal axes. Hence, a few adjustments and simple removable nozzlesupporting means may be sufficient to adjust and adapt the position ofthe nozzles to the various sizes of the user's bodies, while maintainingsaid optimized arrangement of nozzles.

In accordance with an additional advantageous characteristic of theinventive booth, the relative position of the column, the tray and thecurvilinear wall opposite the column is such that the body of thepatient is situated substantially at the focus of the curvilinear wallwith reference to the spray direction of the nozzles, therefore evenwhen a fixed platform is provided, the part of the body opposite thecolumn is painted in an optimized, substantially even manner. In FIG. 9,this is shown by dashed lines, which outline the main spraying directionof the nozzles and the corresponding reflection direction. Obviously,such characteristic largely depends on the overall geometry of thebooth, hence the relative positions of the above mentioned parts as wellas the nozzle direction and the curvature of the wall may greatly vary,provided that the body of the patient, hence the tray, are always keptsubstantially at the focus of the curvilinear wall.

Regarding the means 22, 22′ for electrostatically charging the paintliquid, these may be substantially of two types.

A first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, provides a radiative ionizationby using an UV lamp, designated as 7. Near the UV lamp 7, the nozzlefeeding pipe is made of a transparent glass portion 8 which isadvantageously shaped as a coil wound around a UV lamp 7 having theshape of a tube or a cylinder. Said combination lamp and coil isprovided as a separate radiative ionization unit 22 and has a liquidinlet 9 and a liquid outlet 10. The advantages of this method forelectrostatically charging the liquid that passes through the coil 8consist in that there is no need for direct contact between the liquidand an electric conductor, for said liquid to acquire the desiredelectrostatic charge, which provides obvious advantages in terms ofoperational safety, as it prevents any short circuit danger mainlyarising from the fact that these liquids contain a high percentage ofwater, which is highly conductive, as well as any potential directconnection between the user and an electric source.

FIG. 11 shows an alternative to the arrangement of FIG. 7. Here theradiative ionization unit is not provided in the nozzle feeding circuit,but is a part of a unit that is associated to or integrated in thenozzle. Each nozzle 5 opens into a ionization chamber 30, having anoutlet for the micronized or atomized liquid, designated with numeral31, directly opposite the nozzle. The nozzle sprays the liquid in theionization chamber 30, whereto one or more UV lamps 7 are associated.Advantageously, the lamps are placed outside the ionization chamber 30which is properly made of material that is transparent to UV rays. Thisallows to prevent any electric connection of the lamps which may come indirect contact with the paint liquid.

FIG. 12 shows a liquid polarization scheme in a ionization chamber,wherein electric electrodes are provided in direct contact with theatomized or nebulized liquid. Here, the ionization chamber 30 is fittedwith one or more ionization electrodes 33, which may be simpleelectrodes made of copper or another electrically conductive material,or ionization diodes. Particularly, two rows of plate-like electrodesare disposed on two opposite sides of the ionization chambers 30,extending in opposite directions in a comb-like arrangement. Ionizationmay occur by applying a potential difference between the two rows ofelectrodes, or by charging the electrodes to a predeterminedelectrostatic potential, so that they may charge electrostatically thevaporized liquid.

FIG. 13 shows a variant for electrostatic charging of the paint liquid.Here, electrostatic charging occurs in the tank 20 by means of aionization electrode, plug or diode 34 which is dipped in the liquidcontained in the tank 22. Also, FIG. 13 shows an alternative liquidpressure feeding arrangement, which uses compressed air. In this case,the outlet of a compressor is connected to an inlet 222 of the tank andexerts a pressure on the liquid contained in the tank, which pressurepropels the liquid into the outlet pipe 122.

Finally, according to FIG. 14 the sprayed liquid is ionized by themechanical atomization action. It was found that, by micronizing theliquid to a droplet size of about 20 micron, the liquid so micronizedhad an electrostatic charge, probably due to the polar character of theliquid, which increases considerably at such small sizes. Thismechanical arrangement is particularly advantageous as it does notrequire separate or additional means for ionization or electrostaticcharging of the liquid to be sprayed, the process being a side effect ofatomization/misting.

As appears clearly form FIGS. 1 to 9, the device according to theinvention is formed by a cabin, or the like having lateral walls 1 and abottom formed by a tray-like platform 3.

In the embodiments according to FIGS. 17, 18, 20, 22, 24 e 25 differentvariants of the booth described above are shown.

From the constructive point of view relatively to the booth or cabinitself lateral walls 1 and a tray like bottom platform 3 is provided.The lateral walls can be formed by a double layer wall having an outsidewall layer 101 and an inner wall layer 201 which form a hollow spacebetween each other. In this space the uprights pipes 102 carrying thenozzles 5 are provided.

The pipes 102 are connected together by a connection or distributionpipe 202. The tray like platform 3 has a concave shape in order to forma basin. The basin has preferably a wall degrading towards a collectingoutput 303 which is connected to an output pump 40 which forwards thefall down rests of the spayed liquid to a collecting tank 41. A pipe 43connects the output pump 40 to a suction vent 42 which has condensermeans as for example a centrifugal drier device (not illustrated) forcondensing the liquid still dispersed in the atmosphere inside thebooth, which is then forwarded by the output pump to the collecting tank41.

As it appears clearly form FIGS. 17, 18, 24 and 25, four or more uprightpipes 102 are provided, each one of which carries one or more nozzles 5.The uprights 102 are placed in the hollow space between the two lateralwall sheets 101, 201, the internal wall sheet having aperturescoinciding with each nozzle 5.

FIGS. 17, 18, and 25 show a preferred positioning of the upright pipeswhich allow to have the nozzles carried by each upright pipe 102essentially at a similar distance to the side of the body of the useragainst which the nozzles 5 are oriented.

The position of the uprights can follow two principal solidsapproximating the shape or enveloping surface of a human body.

According to FIG. 17 the human body is approximated by an ellipsoid or aregular ellipse. Thus the uprights pipes 102 carrying the nozzles arearranged along the surface of a solid having an elliptic basis beingsaid upright pipes 102 oriented parallel to the axis of the solid,namely perpendicular to the elliptic basis.

The sheets 101, 201 forming the lateral walls are concentric solidshaving elliptic basis. Six upright pipes are distributed on oppositesides of the elliptic basis in a symmetric way relatively to the largestdiameter of the elliptic basis. The distribution may be also be nonsymmetric. In FIG. 17 the body is indicated by B.

Another solid for approximating the shape of the human body is aparallelepipedon. A cross section thereof is indicated with B in FIG.18. Here the six upright pipes 102 are placed at the centre of thelongest laterals side and at each angle of the rectangular basis of theparalellepipedon formed by the bottom 3 and by the lateral wall 1

Obviously the examples of FIGS. 17 and 18 are schematic ones and do nottake care of the dimension of the body and of the booth for allowing toprovide an opening which is sufficient to easy enter the booth.

FIG. 25 is a view in which the principle of FIG. 17 or 18 is applied andin which correct dimensions are chosen for allowing to provide asufficient large entrance in the booth.

As it appears from FIG. 17 further upright pipes 50 can be providedhaving also nozzles 51 for spraying for example air and or water, eitherfor treating a user or for cleaning the booth after a spray treatment ofthe tanning liquid or the like. The said further uprights pipes 50 andassociated nozzles 51 are illustrated with discontinuous lines. And areplace on one side of the upright pipes 102 carrying the tanning liquid.Further upright pipes for spraying or distributing other liquids orgases may be provided at other positions. As it appears clearly alsothese further upright pipes 50 are provided in the hollow space betweenthe two sheets 101, 201 forming the lateral walls and the inner sheet201 is provided with apertures for the nozzles 51.

In another constructive variant illustrated in FIGS. 20 and 21, noupright pipes are provided, but a series of nozzles are carried on theinterior surface of a bracket 60. These bracket is shaped as an openring having an elliptic or circular or else shaped form. The form can bealso a polygonal or square or rectangular one. The nozzles 5 areconnected to a pipe 61 forwarding the liquid to be spayed.

The bracket is supported in a cantilevered way by a vertical slidingguide and means are provided for displacing the bracket up and down in acontinuous way. Different means can be used which are within the choiceof the expert in the art between the known ones. In FIG. 20 the guideand driving means are formed by a vertical threaded bar 63 which engagesan internally threaded sleeve 64 which is mounted in a non rotatable waywithin a radial extension of the bracket 60.

A motor 65 drives the bar 63 in order to rotate around its axis. Otherguiding and driving means can be sued such as electro-pneumaticactuators or similar.

The bracket 60 is housed within the hollow space formed between the twosheets 101, 201 forming the said wall. In this embodiment the internallayer has vertical axial openings which are continuous along the entirepath of the corresponding nozzle 5.

As a further variant the embodiment of FIGS. 20 and 21 shows a differentkind of nozzles for vaporizing and or atomizing the liquid to besprayed. In this case the nozzles 5 uses a atomizing or vaporizingvector which is formed by air under pressure. These can be mixed to theliquid to be sprayed in a tank not shown and or as illustrated in FIG.20 the air under pressure is mixed up with the liquid directly in thenozzles 5. As it is shown in FIG. 20 each nozzle is fed with the liquidand with the air under pressure by two different feeding lines indicatedwith 66 and 67.

These embodiment has the advantage that by providing valves at the inletof each one of the two feeding lines as indicated by 167 and 166 onlyair or only liquid can be fed to the nozzles, thus allowing to carry outdifferent functions by the same nozzles as for examples cleaningfunction by feeding only water to the nozzles and/or drying functions byfeeding only air to the nozzles.

A further advantage of the embodiment according to FIG. 20 and 21consist in the fact that the bracket can be displaced with differentspeeds at different heights in order to rest more time at the heights ofanatomically difficult parts relatively to the spraying of the tanningliquid such as for example the female breasts.

According to FIGS. 24 and 25 the booth according to the invention mayshow a room for housing all the pumps, tanks and electronic units neededto operate the device. These units may be arranged on a trolley whichcan be pushed inside or drawn outside the housing room indicated with70. These room 70 has a door and the different pipes or cablesconnection the devices on the trolley 71 with the units at the booth areformed by flexible pipes and cables and have a sufficient length toallow the drawing out of the trolley form the housing room 70.

FIG. 23 shows a further variant of the invention. According to thisvariant no stationary or dedicated tank is provided in the apparatus,but the usual bottles are used in which the tanning liquid or the likeis sold, a bottle cap being provided having clamping means whichprovides for a mechanical retention and for generating the necessaryseal. Generally the said bottles 80 have an annular flange 180 at acylindrical output sleeve 280 which communicates with the interior ofthe bottle 80. The closure cap 81 according to the invention is providedwith an internal annular flange 181 which can be elastically forced overthe external flange 180 of the sleeve 208. The internal flange 181 isprovided at a position of a lateral cylindrical wall of the cap at whichposition the said internal flange 181 is axially spaced from theexternal flange 180 on the sleeve 280 when the cap is fitted on thesleeve 280, the said distance forming an annular housing for an annularseal 82 such an 0-ring or the like. At least a suction pipe 83 passesthrough the cap and reaches the bottom of the bottle. Also a liquidlevel sensor 84 may be mounted in the cap for sensing the minimum levelof the liquid in the bottle. Both the suction pipe 83 and the liquidlevel sensor 84 are sealed within the cap.

As it appears also from FIG. 23, the same or similar cap can be used incombination of a tank for collecting the rests of the prayed liquidsucked or retrieved from the booth after a treatment. I this case thecollecting tank can be formed by an empty bottle 80. On the contrary ofthe cap for the full bottles when the empty bottle is used to collectthe rests of the sprayed liquid from the booth, then a maximum levelsensor is provided in the cap. This sensor indicated with 85 isillustrated with discontinuous lines in FIG. 23.

The same pipe 83 can serve as output pipe for extracting the liquid formthe bottle 80 or as a feeding pipe for feeding the rests of the sprayedliquid collected from the booth after the treatment.

The maximum level sensor 85 and the minimum level sensor 84 can be ofthe kind generating an electric signal which is fed to a central controlunit which controls the entire operative units of the apparatus, thusallowing to stop the apparatus when the bottle 80 from which the liquidto be sprayed reaches the minimum level and/or when the bottle in whichthe liquid resting in the booth after treatment is collected reaches themaximum level. Since the said bottles are of plastic material the abovedisclosed arrangement allows to spare plastic material with economicadvantages and with a reduced pollution effect.

Although the caps are described with reference to a particularly shapedbottle 80, it is obvious for the expert in the art to modify the saidcap in order to fit differently shaped bottles particularly relativelyto the sleeve 280 so to achieve the same functions and advantages as thedisclosed example.

According to still another embodiment of the apparatus of the presentinvention, FIG. 15 illustrates a modified liquid forwarding, ionisatingand spraying circuit.

In this embodiment, the nozzles 5 are mounted on upright pipes 102. Thisis not necessary at all since the circuit can operate also with nozzlesmounted on a bracket 60 according to FIG. 20.

The feeding circuit of the liquid to be sprayed to the nozzles 5comprises a feeding branch 90 and a return branch 91. A pump sucks theliquid from a tank, particularly from the bottle 80 into the circuit 90,91. In the return branch 91 a ionisation apparatus 93 for thecirculating liquid is provided. A valve 94 is provided for closing thereturn branch 91 in order to generate the pressure in the feeding branchwhich allows praying. Furthermore valves are provided which closes thenozzles 5 during circulation when the valve at the return branch 91 isopen.

Advantageously the circuit is provided with a pump furnishing aadjustable feeding pressure for the liquid, while the nozzles areprovided with automatic pressure sensitive valves which opens when theliquid pressure overcomes a certain predetermined minimum pressure.

Advantageously the circuit is provided with two pumps. A first pump 92which is a low pressure pump. The low pressure pump 92 feeds the liquidfrom the bottle or from the tank 80 into the circuit 90, 91. Thepressure of the liquid when the valve 94 in the return branch 91 is openand the low pressure pump 92 is driven is below the minimum pressurelevel needed to operate the nozzles valves in order to commutate thesaid nozzle valves into the opened condition.

The low pressure pump 92 causes the liquid to circulate in the branches91 and 90 and through the ionisation apparatus 93 for a period of timeneeded to ionisate the entire liquid circulating.

In the feeding branch 90 a high pressure pump 95 is provided throughwhich the liquid can circulate when driven in the circuit 90, 91 by thelow pressure pump 92. Typically a piston pump does not create to muchresistance to the liquid flow when it is not operated.

The high pressure pump 95 is driven by a brushless motor 96 which iscontrolled by an inverter 97. A CPU unit 98 controls the entire processof the low pressure pump 92, of the inverter 97, the electrovalves 94and the liquid level in the battle 80.

Ionisation can also be measured by means of electric voltagemeasurements or by simply measuring the time of the ionisation phase.

When the ionisation phase is ended the high pressure pump 95 isactivated and the valve 94 in the return branch 91 is closed. Also thelow pressure pump is closed and the pressure increases in branch 90 andat the nozzles 5 till the said pressure overcomes the minimum pressurefor opening the nozzle valves allowing the liquid to be sprayed.

The circuit for the liquid is dimensioned in order to contain severalliters of the fluid so that a great amount of fluid is ionised. Eachtreatment of spraying the liquid uses from 100 to 800 ml of liquid sothat the liquid in the circuit is sufficient for several treatments.

Nevertheless a treatment can be advantageously splitted into severalshort spraying phases, at each spraying phase only a partial amount ofthe entire volume of liquid being sprayed. After each spraying phase thehigh pressure pump can be disactivated and the low pressure pump 92 isactivated by opening again the valve 94 in the return branch forstarting a ionisation cycle as disclosed above. After the ionisationcycle a new partial spray cycle can be carried out.

FIG. 19 illustrates a nozzle 5 being provided with a automatic pressuresensitive valve.

The nozzle 5 has a spraying opening 105 is mounted at an end of afeeding chamber 205. The feeding chamber 205 has an in out opening 305opposite to the nozzle opening 105 the said opening forms a valve seatat the internal face with which a piston like valve shutter 405cooperates. The said piston like valve shutter 405 is able to slide awayand against the valve seat at the input opening 305 and is urged againstthe said valve seat by means of an elastic element 505. The elasticelement 505 for example a spiral spring as illustrated in FIG. 19 isplaced between a wall of the chamber 205 on the side of the nozzleopening 105 and opposite to a contact surface with the piston like valveshutter 405. The elastic element 505 is dimensioned in such a way as toneed a certain predetermined input pressure of the fluid for allowingthe piston like valve shutter 405 to be displaced away from the valveseat allowing the fluid to fill the feeding chamber 205 and reach thenozzle opening 105.

The said nozzle valves has the further advantages that they can be setto a fluid pressure near the optimum pressure allowing the liquid to besprayed only when the pressure of the liquid is at a pressure near theoptimum one. This avoid the fact that when the pressure is to low thenozzles may not sufficiently vaporize or atomize the liquid and to bigdrops or jets are emitted by the nozzles.

According to another feature of the invention, which is illustrated inFIG. 15 and 16, the nozzles on each upright pipe 102 are not positionedall at equal distances one from the other. Particulalrly the nozzles atthe level of the breast are positioned closer to each other. Furthermorethe nozzles on the upright pipes 5 on one side and on the other side ofthe largest diameter of the ideal path along which the upright pipes arepositioned (see FIG. 17 and 18) are positioned axially displaced. Thenozzles 5 on one upright pipe 102 are axially displaced relatively tothe nozzles of the adjacent one. This allows to avoid overlapping of thepraying comes of the nozzles ensuring maximum coverage.

FIG. 16 illustrates the nozzles 5 on three adjacent upright pipes (notshown) and the relative spraying cones at a distance at which a body isplaced from the said nozzles. The bigger circles C indicates the coneson a flat surface at the said distance from the nozzles.

From the technical point of view the high pressure pump is drive inorder to reach a spraying pressure from 30 to 100 bars, preferably from60 to 70 bar. Each spraying cycle lasts several seconds particularlyfrom 1 to 3 seconds.

The nozzles and the pressure of the liquid are defined in such a way asto generate drops having a range between 5 and 40 microns and to avoidturbulences.

Providing several shorts spraying cycles which are alternate to restperiods, allows to exploit better the enveloping effect of the polarizedsprayed liquid and the natural falling down effect due to gravity.

Preferably a device according to figure 15 has the following operativecycle:

The liquid from the tank is sucked into the circuit by means of the lowpressure pump 92 which is a self triggering one.

First a stand-by pahes is carried out during which the low pressure pump92 sucks the liquid and continue to make it circulate in the circuit sothat the liquid is continuously mixed and continuously passes throughthe ionisation device.

A ready to start phase during which the high pressure pump is activatedat a low level rotation speed so that the pressure does not increase ashigh as to open the nozzle valves but the pressure in the system reachesa higher pressure from which the optimum spraying pressure can berapidly reached.

A spraying phase in which the high pressure pump is brought to a higherrotation rate such as to allow the spraying pressure to be reached. Theelectro valve in the return branch 91 are closed and the pressureincreases at the level opening the pressure sensitive nozzle valves.

The command for the spraying phase can be given manually by the user bymeans of a button inside the booth.

The ionisation apparatus can be of every kind. As a further example ofionisation apparatus is a so called ion accelerator which thanks to thenatural magnetism of rare earth generating a magnetic field of about9000 gauss causes the polarisation of the particles. This effect isenhanced by the circulation of the fluid several times through the ionaccelerator. The high magnetic field furthermore has also an importantsterilisation effect.

Relating to FIG. 26, a portable device is shown in which a praying gunis provided. The spraying gun 110 can be of the kind known for sprayingpaint, particularly having an tank on which the gun is mounted having anintegrated suction pump. The said suction pump being electrically drivenand communication with the suction pipe with the tank and with it outputwith a nozzle. Different nozzles 5 may be provided that can bealternatively mounted on the gun output. In combination therewith one ormore stencils 111 having differently shaped patterns are provided. Thusit is possible to locally spray a tanning liquid and giving to thesprayed zone a special shape provided on the stencil. This allows toobtain tattoo like designs or patterns on the body of a user. The abovementioned combination of parts can form a kit for applying painted ortanning patterns on the body which can be housed in a bag.

The apparatus according to the invention may be further enhanced withdifferent facilities. For example a device for displaying films ortelevision programs can be provided and also a film can be displayedinstructing the use of the apparatus, which film may be stored on amagnetic band, or in the form of a digital film on a digital storagemedium.

Also means for giving vocal commands and emitting vocal instructions canbe provided.

Means for automatic distribution of under wear or the like can beprovided.

As already disclosed the apparatus may be provided with one or morefurther circuits for spraying different fluids or liquids. Air can besprayed for drying and water or other liquids can be sprayed forwashing.

The operative devices like the pumps, the tanks, the ionisator units,the electronic and electric units, the electro valves and the otheradditional devices can be placed on the trolley as illustrated in FIG.23 so that it is very simple to change the bottles 80 and/or to carryout inspections or repair interventions.

1. An apparatus for painting a coating paint product, the apparatuscomprising: at least one column-shaped member; at least one spray nozzlefitted on the at least one column-shaped member; at least one tankcontaining coating paint product; an electrically insulated, showertray-like platform; and at least one wall containing a jet-sprayingnozzle, the at least one wall facing the at least one column-shapedmember.
 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said product isvaporized and/or micronized and/or atomized by said spray nozzle placedon at least one column-like member, inside the booth.
 3. The apparatusas claimed in claim 1, wherein that said nozzles are in a number of twoor more.
 4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said nozzlesare preferably in a number of three to five.
 5. The apparatus as claimedin claim 1, wherein said nozzles are high-pressure pneumatic atomizers.6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said walls may be in anumber of two or more enclosing completely or partially a user housingvolume, while the nozzles are oriented essentially in the direction of acentral zone of the said volume or a central column coaxial to the saidvolume.
 7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said walls arecurved about a vertical axis perpendicular to the booth base.
 8. Theapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said walls are concave towardthe inside of the booth.
 9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid walls are translucent.
 10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein said platform rotates in a clockwise and/or counter-clockwisedirection.
 11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidplatform is driven by a pneumatic motor.
 12. The apparatus as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said platform is electrically shielded by a connectionto the ground potential.
 13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein said platform has the shape of a tray.
 14. The apparatus asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the paint product in use may be a tanningliquid and/or sea water and/or thermal spring water and/or thermal muds.15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the paint product inuse is sprayed in amounts of 1 ml to 200 ml.
 16. The apparatus asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the paint product in use is sprayed in thepreferred amount of 80 ml.
 17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein the paint product in use may be electrostatically charged. 18.The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said liquid is chargedelectrostatically inside the tank/s that contain the liquid.
 19. Theapparatus claimed in claim 1, wherein an electrode and/or a sparkingplug and/or a polarizing diode are associated to said tank and dip insaid liquid or are in electric contact with the liquid.
 20. Theapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said liquid is chargedelectrostatically while it passes through the pipe that connects thetank and the discharge nozzle/s.
 21. The apparatus as claimed in claim1, wherein the liquid is charged by radiative ionization.
 22. Theapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liquid is chargedelectrostatically while it passes through a transparent tube forconnection of the tank and the spray nozzle/s, which transparent tube isadjacent to a UV lamp.
 23. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe liquid is atomized at the spry nozzles to liquid particles having anaverage diameter of about 20 μm.
 24. The apparatus as claimed in claim23, wherein the liquid is charged electrostatically with a positivecharge as an effect of the previous atomization.
 25. The apparatus asclaimed in claim 1, wherein it includes a tubular inverted U-shapedupright 2 having nozzles in at least one of its stems.
 26. The apparatusas claimed in claim 1, wherein it includes a lo tubular invertedU-shaped upright 2 providing the function of supporting the curvilinearwalls.
 27. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a traylike platform (3) and a plurality of nozzles (5) which are placed atdifferent heights above the platform and at different angular positionson an ideal surface enveloping a volume vertically aligned with the saidplatform (3), the nozzles being fed with a treatment liquid underpressure, the liquid being subjected to ionization or electrostaticcharging before being fed to the nozzles and/or at the nozzles and/orimmediately after leaving the nozzles by means of subjecting the liquidto the action of electric, magnetic, electromagnetic and/or mechanicenergy.
 28. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the nozzles (5)are distributed on a rotational symmetric enveloping surface around acentral vertical axis of the platform (3).
 29. The apparatus accordingto claim 27, wherein several vertical rows of nozzles are provided whichare aligned along vertical axis at different positions on the idealenveloping surface.
 30. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein thenozzles (5) are positioned on each row in a non uniform way, the nozzlest5) of a row at a certain height being positioned closer than thenozzles (5) at different s height along the row.
 31. The apparatusaccording to claim 27, wherein the nozzles (5) are positioned on theenveloping surface vertically displaced the one with respect to thelaterally adjacent forming spraying cones only slightly overlapping eachother or not overlapping at all which cones are positioned in quincunxrelationship.
 32. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein each rowof nozzles t5) is vertically displaced with respect to the nozzles ofthe laterally adjacent row the cones of one row being placed in aquincunx relationship relatively to the cones of the laterally adjacentrow.
 33. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the envelopingideal surface is a rectangular or elliptic surface or a polygonalsurface being coaxial or concentric to a corresponding rectangular orelliptic or polygonal surface approximating the shape of the externalsurface of an upstanding body placed at the central zone of the platform(3).
 34. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein lateral walls (1)are provided departing vertically from the platform (3) and extendingalong the ideal enveloping surface.
 35. The apparatus according to claim27, wherein the nozzles (5) are carried by the said walls (1).
 36. Theapparatus according to claim 27, wherein feeding pipes (102) areprovided connecting each nozzle s (5) with a feeding circuit (90) forthe liquid to be sprayed, the feeding pipes (102) supporting the nozzles(5) and being housed with the nozzles (5) in a hollow space between aninternal layer (201) and an external layer (101) forming the lateralwall (1).
 37. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein vertical orupright feeding pipes (102) are provided for each row of nozzles (5),each vertical pipe.(102) carrying the nozzles (5) of each vertical rowand forming a liquids distributing chamber.
 38. The apparatus accordingto claim 37, wherein the vertical or upright pipes (102) are distributedat different angular positions along the enveloping surface and areprovided into two groups, the vertical pipes (102) of one group beingprovided on one side of the enveloping surface and the second group onthe opposite side of the said enveloping surface relatively to a centralor diametric section plane of the said enveloping surface along thelarger diameter or the larger center line.
 39. The apparatus accordingto claim 38, wherein the vertical or upright pipes (102) are placed in asymmetric way with respect to the said central or diametric sectionplane of the said enveloping surface along the larger diameter or thelarger center line.
 40. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein atleast a certain number of a second kind of nozzles is provided forspraying a different gas or liquid at least a further feeding circuitbeing provided for the said other liquid or gas.
 41. The apparatusaccording to claim 40, wherein the other liquid is water.
 42. Theapparatus according to claim 40, wherein the other fluid is air.
 43. Theapparatus according to claim 27, wherein the platform (3) is shapedbasin like and has a concave bottom degrading towards an output opening,the said output opening being connected to a collecting tank a pump (43)being provided for feeding the rest liquid accumulated in the platform(3) after spraying from the said platform (3) to the said tank (41). 44.The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein vent or air suction means(42) are provided sucking the air from the volume enclosed by thelateral wall (1) and feeding the said air to a liquid condenser, thesaid condenser having an output connected to the tank (41) directly orby means of a suction pump (40).
 45. The apparatus according to claim27, wherein the tank for the liquid to be sprayed is formed by thebottles (80) in which the liquid is sold or delivered which tanks areprovided with an output sleeve (280), a closure cap (81) of the saidbottle (80) being provided having mechanical clamping means (181)engaging the said output sleeve (280) and sealing means (82) forsealingly connecting the closure cap (81) and the output sleeve (280),which clamping means can be disengaged form the output sleeve (280) andwhich closure cap (81) carries a suction tube (83) sealingly passingthrough the said closure cap and reaching almost to the bottom of thebottle (80), the said suction tube (83) being connected to the feedingcircuit of the liquid to the nozzles (5).
 46. The apparatus according toclaim 45, wherein the closure cap (81) carries a liquid level measuringor sensing means (84, 85).
 47. The apparatus according to claim 45,wherein the collecting tank (41) is lo formed by an empty liquid bottle(80) a closure cap (81) being provided the suction tube (83) of which inconnected at the rest liquid discharging circuit or pump and maximumlevel sensing means (85) being provided on the said closure cap (81).48. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein a certain number ofnozzles aligned on at least one plane parallel to the platform (3) iscarried by a bracket (60), the said bracket (60) being carried in avertical slidable way on at least one vertical guide and actuator meansbeing provided for displacing the said bracket up and down along thevertical guides, the bracket being formed by an open annular elementwhich shape is correspondent to the enveloping surface.
 49. Theapparatus according to claim 48, wherein the bracket (60) is housed inthe hollow space between the internal layer (201) and the external layer(101) forming the lateral wall (1), the said hollow space having aconcentric or coaxial spare with respect to the shape of the bracket(60), while the internal layer (201) of the lateral wall (1) hasvertical openings coinciding with the vertical path of each nozzle (5)on the bracket (60).
 50. The apparatus according to claim 49, whereinthe nozzles (5) on the bracket forms blade like spaying jets.
 51. Theapparatus according to claim 27, wherein the nozzles (5) are of the kindmixing the liquid to be sprayed with gas or air under pressure foratomization of the said liquid separate feeding circuits (66, 67) beingprovided for the gas or air under pressure and for the liquid.
 52. Theapparatus according to claim 51, wherein the gas and the air feedingcircuits (66, 67) are provided with valves for closing alternatively onefor both the said feeding circuits, thereby causing the nozzles(5) toeject only liquid or only gas.
 53. The apparatus according to claim 48,wherein further nozzles for a further different gas or liquid areprovided which are connected to a dedicated feeding circuit.
 54. Theapparatus according to claim 27, wherein the nozzles (5) are connectedto a circulating circuit having a feeding branch (90) of the liquid anda return branch (91) of the liquid. The feeding branch being connectedto a first circulating pump (92), the feeding branch being connected tothe feeding output of the pump (92), the return branch (91) beingconnected to the suction of the pump (92), in the return branch (91)being provided a device (93) for ionizing the liquid and a valve (94)for closing the return branch (91), the suction of the pump (92) beingfurther connected to a liquid tank (80), the pump (92) being capable ofgenerating a variable liquid pressure within the circulating circuit,control means being provided for driving the pump at a range forgenerating a high pressure in the liquid and closing the return branch(91) by means of s the valve (94) and for driving the pump at a rangegenerating low pressure in the liquid and activating the ionisator (93)and opening the valve (94) of the return branch (91).
 55. The apparatusaccording to claim 54, wherein two pumps are provided a first pump (92)being a low pressure pump and being activated for feeding the liquidfrom the tank (80) to the circuit and circulating the said liquid withinthe feeding and the return branch (90, .91) while the valve (94) in thereturn branch (91) is open and the ionisator is activated and a secondpump (95) for generating a high pressure at least in the feeding branch(90), which second high pressure pump (95) is provided in the feedingbranch after the low pressure pump (92) and is activated for generatingthe spraying pressure when the valve (94) on the return branch isclosed, the second pump having a by-pass branch or being open for theliquid flow when inactive.
 56. The apparatus according to claim 55,wherein the low pressure pump (92) is a self triggering pump controlledby the liquid level sensor within the tank (80).
 57. The apparatusaccording to claim 55, wherein the second pump is driven by a brushlessmotor by means of an inverter (97) controlled by a central processingunit (CPU) (98), the said pump being able to be driven at differentrotation speeds for generating different values of the liquid pressure.58. The apparatus according to claim 55, wherein the CPU controls thevalves (94) in the return branch (91) which is an electrovalve and theionisator and has s timing means counting time periods.
 59. Theapparatus according to claim 27, wherein a program is provided fordriving the low pressure pump (92) together with the ionisator for agiven period of time and for activating the high pressure pump (95) atdifferent rotational speeds corresponding to at least two differentliquid pressures, and closing or opening the valve (94) in the returnbranch (91), the said program providing different operational phases: afirst circuit loading phase consisting in activating the low pressurepump (92) for sucking the liquid from the tank (80) into the feedingbranch (90) and for opening the valve (94) in the return branch (91); asecond stand-by phase in which low pressure pump (92) is activated forproviding circulation of the liquid through the ionization means (93)which are activated, the said phase being carried out for a period oftime sufficient long for ensuring continuous mixing and ionization of acertain amount of the liquid; a third ready to start phase during whichthe high pressure pump is activated at a low level rotation speed sothat the pressure does not increase as high as to open generate a liquidoutput at the nozzles but the pressure in the system reaches a higherpressure from which the optimum spraying pressure can be rapidlyreached; and a fourth spraying phase in which the high pressure pump isbrought to a higher rotation rate such as to allow the optimum sprayingpressure to be reached and the electro valve in the return branch (91)is closed.
 60. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein manual meansare provided for starting the spraying phase when the circuit is in aready to start phase.
 61. The apparatus according to claim 27, whereinpressure sensitive nozzle-valves are provided which open the connectionof the nozzles (5) to the feeding Circuit only when the liquid in thefeeding circuit reaches certain pressure.
 62. The apparatus according toclaim 61, wherein each nozzle is provided at a peripheral wall of afeeding chamber (205), the said feeding chamber being connected to thefeeding branch (90) by means of a pressure sensitive valve (305, 405,505).
 63. The apparatus according to claim 62, wherein the pressuresensitive valve being formed by a piston like shutter (505) slidablydisplaceable within the feeding chamber (205) from a position in whichit closes the input opening (305) of the feeding chamber in a positionat which the said input opening (305) is not closed, elastic means beingprovided urging the said piston like shutter in the position closing theinput opening (305).
 64. The apparatus according to claim 63, whereinsaid feeding chamber (205) and the pressure sensitive valve (305, 405,505) housed therewith are integrated in a nozzle body, each nozzle (5)being provided with it own pressure sensitive valve.
 65. The apparatusaccording to claim 59, wherein during the ready to start phase theliquid pressure in the feeding branch (90) is lower than the pressureneeded s to open the pressure sensitive valves of the nozzles (5), whileduring the spraying phase the pressure of the liquid is higher than thepressure needed to open the pressure sensitive valves of the nozzles(5).
 66. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein at least part ofthe pump or pumps and/or of the valves and/or of the driving unitsand/or of the pipes forming the feeding and/or return branches (90, 91)and/or of the tanks (80, 40) and/or of the control units is housed on atrolley like member which is housed in a lateral extension room of abooth formed by the lateral wall (1) and the platform (3), the saidlateral extension room being provided with a door and the said trolleybeing displaceable inside and outside the said extension room, whileflexible pipe and or cable connections are provided to the circuit partsand/or to the electric connection cables residently and fixedly mountedon the lateral wall (1) and or on the platform (3).
 67. The apparatusaccording to claim 27, wherein the high pressure pump is drive in orderto reach a spraying pressure from 30 to 100 bars, preferably from 60 to70 bar.
 68. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein each sprayingcycle lasts several seconds particularly from 1 to 3 seconds.
 69. Theapparatus according to claim 27, wherein between two spraying cycles arest cycle of predetermined duration is provided which is sufficient fora certain amount of s the vaporized or atomized liquid particles in theair to fall down by gravity.
 70. The apparatus according to claim 27,wherein the nozzles and the pressure of the liquid are defined in such away as to generate drops having a range between 5 and 40 microns and toavoid turbulences.
 71. (canceled)
 72. An apparatus for painting acoating paint product and a tanning liquid, the apparatus comprising aspraying gun, the spraying gun comprising: a handle; an electric pumpintegrated in the handle; means for securing the spraying gun to aliquid tank; a suction sleeve connected to the spraying gun and housedin the liquid tank; a spraying nozzle (5) at the pump output; and anactivation button integrated in the handle.
 73. The apparatus accordingto claim 72, further comprising one or more stencils (11) havingdifferent patterns.
 74. The apparatus according to claim 72, whereinseveral nozzles (5) of different kinds are provided, the several nozzlesbeing suitable for mounting on the spraying gun.
 75. (canceled)
 76. Theapparatus according to claim 72, wherein the apparatus is provided as akit for providing a human body with a tattoo like pattern.
 77. A methodfor painting a coating liquid using nozzles, the method comprising thesteps of: electrically charging the liquid; feeding the liquid to thenozzles; atomizing the electrically charged liquid; and spraying theliquid against a body; the energy field for electrically charging theliquid being confined to the outside the body.
 78. The method accordingto claim 77, wherein the energy field comprises one or more of anelectric field, a magnetic field, and an electromagnetic field.
 79. Themethod according to claim 77, wherein the liquid is electrically chargedby mechanical energy.
 80. The method according to claim 77, wherein theliquid is electrically charged and/or ionized by reducing the dropletssize of the vaporized or atomized liquid to a size where electrostaticcharge inhomogenities of the molecular structure of the liquid becomesrelevant.
 81. The method according to claim 77, wherein the liquid isatomized or vaporized to a droplet size from 5 to 40 microns.
 82. Themethod according to claim 77, wherein spray of the liquid is carried outfrom several directions against the body to be treated and at severalheight of the said body by providing several spray jets distributed overa body enveloping surface at different heights thereof.
 83. The methodaccording to claim 77, wherein the spray jets are oriented in such a wayone with respect to the other that at a certain distance the sprayingcones generated do only slightly overlap or do not overlap at all. 84.The method according to claim 83, wherein the spray jets are oriented insuch a way as to generate sprayed areas on the body to be treated whichhave a quincunx arrangement.
 85. The method according to claim 77,wherein the spray jets are provided closer to one another at certainzones of the body to be treated.
 86. The method according to claim 77,wherein each spray jet is originated approximately from the samedistance from the corresponding target zone of the body to be treated.87. The method according to claim 77, wherein groups of spray jets aregenerated, the jest of each group being positioned on the envelopingsurface on a vertical row of jets and the different vertical row of jetsbeing distributed at different angular positions along an envelopingsurface of the body to be treated.
 88. The method according to claim 77,wherein the enveloping ideal surface is a rectangular or ellipticsurface or a polygonal surface being coaxial or concentric to acorresponding rectangular or elliptic or polygonal surface approximatingthe shape of the external surface of an upstanding body.
 89. The methodaccording to claim 77, wherein a plurality of spray jets is generatedalong a line on the enveloping surface, the said jets being displacedalong the axial dimension of the enveloping surface in both directions.90. The method according to claim 89, wherein the speed of displacementis different at different parts of the path of the jets.
 91. The methodaccording to claim 77 wherein the spray jets are generated by providingthe liquid under trig pressure conditions and feeding the said highpressure liquid to one or more spray nozzles (5), the spray nozzles (5)being open to input of the high pressure liquid only starting for acertain liquid pressure.
 92. The method according to claim 77, whereinone or more stencils are provided for cooperating with one or more sprayjets.
 93. The method of claim 77, wherein: a single spray jet of theliquid is provided, the single spray jet having an aperture cone fortreating only a local zone of the body; and the liquid is deliveredthrough one or more stencils suitable for providing a pattern on thebody. 94.-95. (canceled)